HEADLINER

California bill introduced to required armed police at all K-12 schools

School resource officers serve at two Redlands Unified high schools

A new California bill would mandate police presence on all K-12 school campuses. California Assemblyman Bill Essayli (R-Corona) unveiled the proposal at a press conference on Tuesday, Feb. 20, in response to a concerning trend of school shootings.

Why it matters: Formally known as Assembly Bill 3038, the controversial measure would mandate the presence of at least one armed officer, commonly referred to as a school resource officer (SRO), on school premises during school hours and other times when students are on campus.

The proposal has sparked a contentious debate over whether police at schools make students safer.

Read more about what school districts across the county are doing to address student safety and how Redlands Unified works with Redlands Police Department to provide a presence at two local high schools.

NEWS BRIEF

💵 City budget planning: The Redlands City Council recently convened to establish key budget priorities for the upcoming years. The top ten priorities, outlined without specific rankings, encompass areas including, police department funding, climate sustainability, downtown parking solutions, affordable housing, and animal shelter improvements. Read more about the priority areas here.

🚒 Fire station renovations: The Redlands City Council approved a $2,160,000 contract for remodeling Redlands Fire Station No.262 on Garden Street during its meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 20. Renovations to the fire station, including additional dormitories and a fitness room, will allow for the recruitment of both female and male candidates in the future. Read more here.

🚔 Driver arrested for attempted murder: A 21-year-old Redlands man has been arrested for attempted murder after allegedly hitting a 20-year-old pedestrian with his car in a parking lot last week. According to Redlands Police, officers responded to the 1100 block of Alabama Street around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20 following reports of a pedestrian being hit by a vehicle. Read more here.

🍊 Citrus quarantine expanded: Following the detection of Huanglongbing (HLB), a serious citrus disease, a quarantine has been placed on counties throughout Southern California, including San Bernardino. This quarantine comes just as Redlands is undergoing mandatory fruit removal to eradicate the oriental fruit fly. Both the removal and expansion of the quarantine zone signify efforts to contain the spread of harmful insects and diseases that put the region's citrus industry at risk. Read more here.

UPCOMING

📚 Authors visit Redlands: For nearly three decades, the Charlotte S. Huck Children's Literature Festival has been a source of inspiration for educators, librarians, parents, and children's literature enthusiasts alike. This year, the tradition continues as the festival gears up to host its 27th installment. While local elementary schools prepare to welcome authors. Read more here.

🧹 Community clean up: Redlands residents are gearing up for an eventful day of volunteering at the 15th Annual Community Day of Service on Saturday, March 9. This event, which is hosted by Serve Redlands, is an opportunity to bring the community together through various service projects centered around the beautification and maintenance of areas around the city. Read more about the four service areas here.